Sheet lath



April 8, 1930.

G' A BU'l'TREss Filed Nov, 28I 192.7

Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-*ica* GEORGE A. BUTTRESS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORTO F. AND B. HOLD- ING COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OECALIFORNIA SHEET LATE v Application led November 28, 1927. Serial No. 236,081.

This invention relates to a fabricating lath panel and particularly pertains to a lath board ofthe character embodying aseries of spaced parallel paper covered composition ribs of the character referred to in my copending application for United States Letters Patent, led November 23, 1926, Serial No.15o,250;

An object of this invention is to provide a sheet lath of the above character in which the series of parallel composition ribs, pref-- erably formed of a hardened plastic'material, are spaced apart and are carried upon a backing sheet and have their outer faces and contiguous edges covered by va facing sheet in such manner as to form channels between adjacent ribs, the bottom walls of which channels are formed by the combined thicknesses of the backing sheet and facing sheet so as to render the bottom walls of such chan-` nels somewhat` iexible throughout their transverse widths to readily permit the lath sheet being rolled and also admit of its being applied to a curved surface.

With the foregoing object in View together with such other objects and advantages as mayI subsequently appear, the invention resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fi 1 is a perspective view of the lath panel;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in cross section as seen on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a detail 'n section illustrating the manner in which the sheet may be bent by i exing the bottom walls of the channels.

Referring tothe drawings more specifically, 3 indicates a flexible Abacking sheet, (which 4may be formed of any ,suitable'fbrous material) and 4 indicates a series of parallel ribs or slats preferably formed -of a plastic composition such as plaster of Paris andr lother suitable ingredients. The ribs 4 are.

spaced apart suitable distancesyand are adhered to the backing sheet 3 by an adhesive quality possessed by the plastic coinpositioni.y

, The outer faces of the ribs 4 are preferably flat and their sides are preferably inclined inwardlyfrom their outer marginsl to their 'l intersections with the backing sheet so as to form channels 5 between the ribs of substan-l tially dove-tail cross section. A flexible fac,

the bottom walls 7 of the channels 5 are iex.

ible throughout their widths so as to permit 'the lath sheet being readily rolled transversely or applied to curved surfaces, and by reason of 4being flexible throughout the bottom walls of the channels 5, a hinge action along the edges of the slats is largely obviated thus overcoming an o j ectionable feature incident to sheet lath of this type in which plaster is interposed between a backing Vsheet and facing sheet forming the bottom walls of the channels. The manner in which the bottom walls 7 of the 4Channels may be bent or flexed is shown in Fig. 3. The double thickness and toughness of the flexible sheet material. and its being capable of bending trans,-

versrely throughout the entire widths of thebottoln ofthe -channels insures against the sheet' lath being readily split along the channels and thereby permits the` lathsheet being subjected to ordinary rough handling as inv transportation and application without danger of breaking;` y v `'The bac-king' sheet and "facing sheet are preferablyA formed of' fibrous material,v and may consist kof the ordi'narylpulpiboard of commerce,l and where vthe lath Ipto' be' employed interiorly may Vbe pntr'eated'; but :in

feeling and lafking` Sheet jefe. rPr'ferably waterproofed. U f

Iny order to provide an overlap lbetween contiguous panelsof the sheet lath, nwhen the latter is applied upon a wall, the longitudinal margins of the lath panel extending in the direction of the length of the ribs are formed with flexible flaps 8 consisting of portions of `the backing sheet and facingsheet fastened together asby means o f an adhesive such as glue, and aflap 9 is provided on at least one end of the lathpanel, which flap may be formed of a strip of flexible material adhered to the backing sheet 3 and arranged to project beyond the end' margins of the ribs and extend continuously along the width of the panel as shown. These flaps 8 are particularly desirable'where the lath is to be employed on exterior walls, as they serve to c-lose the joints between contiguous lath panels so as to prevent moisture, which may permeate plaster coating on the lath from passing beneath or to the back of the llath panels and affecting the frame work' on which the lath is' mounted. Where the flap 9 is employed itis` preferabl formed of moisture resistant material. owever, where the lath is formed for interior work, the end flaps 9 may be dispensed with.

I claim:

'1. A fabricated rib lath, comprising a backing sheet, a series of spaced'parallel ribs adhered to said backing sheet, and a facing sheet covering the outer faces and sides of said ribs and adhered thereto; said facing sheet extending between adjacent ribs in intimate superficial contact with the backing sheet throughout the area thereof extending be? tween the ribs, and forming a flexible connection between said ribs; saidbacking sheet and facingvsheet being projected beyond the marginal ribs to formflaps.

2. *In a fabricated rib lathpanel, a fibrous flexible backing'sheet, a series of spaced parallel ribs adhered to one face of said backing sheet, a flexible facing sheet covering the outer facesand sides of said ribs and adhered- 3. In a fabricated rib lath, a backing sheet,

A a series of spaced parallel ribs adhered to said Yeo backing sheet, sald ribs being" formed ofj a hardenedplastic composition, and a facing sheet covering the outer 4faces and sides of said ribs and adhered thereto; said facing sheet extending between adjacent ribs in intimate superficial contact with the backing sheet throughout the area thereof extending between the ribs. v

4. In a fabricated rib lath, a fibrous flexible backing sheetfa series of spaced parallel ribs adhered to one face of said backing sheet,

said ribs being formed of a plaster composition and having flat outer faces and inwardly inclined side walls forming channels of dovetail cross section between adjacent ribs, a flexible facing sheet covering the outer faces and sides of said ribs and adhered thereto; said facing sheet extending between adjacent ribs in intimate superficial contact with the backing sheet throughout the portions of the latter extending between the ribs and forming with the backingsheet a double thickness of the flexible vmaterial constituting the bottom wall of a channel Iformed between contiguous ribs.

5. A fabricated rib lath, comprising a backing sheet, a series of spaced parallel ribs adhered to said backing sheet, and a facing sheet covering the outer faces and sides of said ribs v and adhered thereto; said facing sheet extending between adjacent ribs in intimate superficial contact with the backing sheet throughout the area thereof and forming a flexible connection between the ribs, said facthe marginal ribs and being adhered together to form flaps.

6. A fabricated rib lath comprising a back- .ing sheet, a series of spaced parallel ribs ad- -ing sheet and backing sheet projecting beyond hered to said backing sheet, a facing sheet I covering the outer faces and sides of said ribs and adhered thereto; said facing sheet ex tending between adjacent ribs in intimate superficial contact with the backing sheet throughout the' area thereof and forming a .flexible connection between the ribs, said facing sheet and backing sheet projecting beyond the marginal ribs and beingadhered together to form flaps, and a flap carried by the backing sheet projecting beyond the end margins of the ribs on at least one end of the panel,

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my s1gnature.

GEORGE A. BUTTRESS. 

